New law named for Elmhurst girl helps with EpiPen training
Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday signed legislation named for a 13-year-old Elmhurst girl who died last year after having a sudden allergic reaction.
The Annie LeGere Law allows for police training in how to use epinephrine auto-injectors, most commonly known as EpiPens.
LeGere's mom, Shelly LeGere, had pushed for the plan and said Friday she's grateful it was signed into law before the anniversary of Annie's death later this month.
"It was something I was dreaming of, for it to be by that date," she said. "The fact that it is, I'm sort of speechless, actually."
Shelly LeGere has worked as an advocate for more access to the potentially lifesaving drug in the year since Annie's death, and she said the new law will push that process forward.
The plan was carried in Springfield by Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg and Republican state Sen. Chris Nybo of Elmhurst.
Nybo, who has worked on EpiPen proposals in the past, praised Mussman.
"There's not a lot of positive things that are happening in state government," Nybo said. "So it's good that we at least got something positive."
Annie LeGere is the niece of Daily Herald Bears writer Bob LeGere.